Lovers without borders

Of wooing, woes and wanderings
Amitabha Chatterjee
Gyaana, 2010,
pp 258, Rs 250

 Venezuela, sultry beauties with voluptuous figures, Latino rhythms, Harry Belafonte singing ‘Matilda...Matilda... she took me money and run Venezuela’ (all the more relevant as the author too, invokes Belafonte). These are some of the thoughts, images and cadences that Of Wooing Woes and Wanderings evokes, by free association.

This is the story of Rajarshi — a young, inexperienced Indian oilman with traditional values, posted to Venezuela, and Marisel — a vivacious, curvaceous Venezuelan woman, and their adventures and misadventures in Venezuela, Egypt, Qatar, Syria, Sudan and Muscat. They meet at a party thrown by Rajarshi’s friends to celebrate his arrival at the oil-rig in El Tigre. At first, Rajarshi’s vocabulary in Spanish is limited to half a dozen words and Marisel’s knowledge of English is non-existent, but the chemistry between them needs no language.

Of Wooing, Woes... reads like part-travelogue, part-refresher course in Spanish, and part log book of an oil-rig interspersed with rambunctious, titillating romantic episodes. Reading about the author’s experiences in Egypt reminded me of my trip to that country, the Nile Cruises, the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, the Sphinx, the mummies, the statues of Tutankhamen and Nefertiti, the papyrus paintings, and in a lighter vein: “You from India? Amitabh Bacchan!” I looked ruefully at myself in the mirror to see whether I resembled the Big B!

There are a few passing references to the political scenario in Venezuela — the insurgency against president Chavez, the demands of La Communidad to be employed by the MNC. One cannot help feeling that these issues could have been fleshed out to add weightage to the narrative.

The most interesting parts of the book are those dealing with a clash of cultures, value-systems and conditioning.  Here is Rajarshi, with his conventional Indian upbringing and values. And then there is Marisel — extroverted and passionate. And thus the inevitable clash of personalities, with the psychological fall-out of insecurity, possessiveness, recriminations... There are also tender glimpses into the parent-child relationship, particularly of the father and child.

The conflict between job and family comes across strongly. These aspects too could have been fleshed out to give more emotional and psychological depth to the book. Another aspect that emerges strongly is the politics of power — the hegemony, the exploitation in the employer-employee relationship, establishing the universality of the prevalence of “the stupor of power.”

The streaks of local colour provide a bright, kaleidoscopic backdrop to the book. The descriptions of food and drink add a luscious, exotic flavour to the narrative-fettucine with Alfredo sauce, tequila, felafel, sheesh tawook, mezze, tabuleh. The humorous touches are the leaven in the bread. The episode of the protagonist being relieved of his wallet, cell-phone and wrist-watch are at once tragi-comic and typical of the Latin-American scenario.

Of Wooing, Woes... is a light, readable book for the young reader looking for adventure. It’s not for the serious reader looking for a socio- historical backdrop or a rich sub–text. With his command of languages, his sense of humour, and flair for alliteration one feels that the author’s next publication will appeal to a wider cross-section of the reading public. Bueno Suerte chamo, for your next book!